Coaxial handle arrangement



Jan. 21, 1969 R. K. MALTARP COAXIAL HANDLE ARRANGEMENT Sheet Fild F5??? 25 1966 WWW ma mm w E mw Jan. 21, 1969 R. K. MALTARP COAXIAL HANDLE ARRANGEMENT Sheet 2 015 Filed Feb. 2, 1966 BY J Jan 21, 1969 R. K. T P 3,423,103

COAXIAL HANDLE ARRANGEMENT Filed Feb. 2, 1966 Sheet 3 on INVENTOR.

365 m7 K. Malta/7b United States Patent Office 937,596 US. Cl. 28047.37 7 Claims Int. Cl. B621) 3/ A0111 53/08 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A foldable handle for a lawnmower wherein a U-shaped upper frame may be arranged in a folded position with respect to a lower frame member.

This invention relates to a foldable handle for use with a device such as a lawnmower.

Folding handles previously used have been characterized by complex structures which are difiicult to manufacture and operate, generally prone to undue wear and loss of rigidity, and often failing to provide a fold flat capability.

The present invention provides a foldable handle for use with a movable device such as a lawnmower, comprising: an upper frame, and lower frame, each frame being substantially U-shaped in form and having a pair of legs and a bight portion extending therebetween, the bight portion of the lower frame being offset from the plane of the legs at least adjacent the ends thereof, at-

tachrnent means at the ends of the legs of the lower frame for attachment to the device, and pivot means connecting the end portion of the legs of the upper frame with the legs of the lower frame adjacent the oflset bight portion, the legs of the upper frame lying between the legs of the lower frame whereby the upper frame may be arranged in an operating position in extended substantially coplanar relation with the legs of the lower frame, and may be rearranged in a folded position in substantially coplanar relation with the lower frame.

Thus the present invention provides a simple rigid handle structure having the legs of the upper frame member located between the legs of the lower frame member and movable either into an operating position with the two frames in coplanar relationship, or into a second folded position, as for travelling, with the two frames again in substantially coplanar relation.

The following is a description b way of example of certain embodiments of the present invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing a handle according to the present invention assembled with a lawnmower, being in the open position; and

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged front view of the handle clamping arrangement; and

FIGURE 3 is a section view on the line 33 of FIG- URE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a side view of the handle taken in the direction A of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 5 shows the handle in the folded position.

Referring to FIGURE 1 the foldable handle 19 comprising an upper frame 20 and a lower frame 25 is shown in the operating position attached to a lawnmower.

Both the upper and the lower frames of the handle are U-shaped in form. The upper frame has legs 21 with a bight portion 22 from which extends a pair of handles 24. The lower frame 25 has a pair of legs 26 connected by means of a bight 27 extending therebetween.

Referring to FIGURE 4, it will be seen that the bight 3,423,103 Patented Jan. 21, 1969 portion 27 of the lower frame 25 is cranked at an angle to the plane of the legs 26, in order that the legs of the upper and the lower frames may be secured in coplanar relationship.

The lower frame 25 is shown secured to the mower by attachment means 30 comprising a pivot pin 31 and latch means 32 which do not constitute part of the present invention.

The ends 23 of the legs 21 of the upper frame 20 are collapsed in order to provide a concave mating surface with the legs 26 of the lower frame 25. The upper and lower frames are pivoted together by means of a pivot 34 comprising a pivot pin 35 having a locking cam 38 pivotally mounted at the end of the handle pivot pin 35 by means of a cam pivot pin 39.

The arcuate cam member 38 has a locking lever 37 attached thereto. Movement of the locking lever 37 to the position shown in phantom in FIGURE 2 results in the release of the handle pivot pin 35, permitting relative rotational movement between the upper and the lower frames 20 and 25 respectively.

The provision of a spring or belleville washer 36 on the handle pivot pin 35 provides a loading tension on the locking cam 38, when in the locked or overcenter position, so that there is positive frictional engagement of a portion of the peripheral surface of the locking cam 38 against the leg portion 23 to maintain the cam in the locked position.

The hook 14 is provided for the coiling of an electric extension cord for use with the machine, but not illustrated.

Referring to FIGURE 5, it Will be seen that in the folded position the upper and lower frames are in coplanar arrangement, thereby facilitating both the handling and the packaging of the mower or other device to which the handle is attached.

Due to the relatively large bearing surfaces common to the upper frame and the lower frame at the zone of attachment, the stresses exerted on the materials are of a low order.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A foldable handle for use with a movable device such as a lawnmower, comprising: an upper frame, and lower frame, each said frame being substantially U-shaped in form and having a pair of legs and a bight portion extending therebetween, the bight portion of said lower frame being offset from the plane of the legs at least adjacent the ends thereof, attachment means at the ends of the legs of said lower frame for attachment to said device, and pivot means connecting the end Portion of the legs of said upper frame with the legs of said lower frame adjacent said offset bight portion, said legs of the upper frame lying between the legs of said lower frame whereby said upper frame may be arranged in an operating position in extended substantially coplanar relation with the legs of said lower frame, and may be rearranged in a folded position in substantially coplanar relation with said lower frame.

2. A foldable handle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said frames are of tubular section, and wherein end portions of the legs of said upper frame are shaped concavely to conform with inner portions of the surface of said lower frame legs.

3. A foldable handle as claimed in claim 2 wherein said upper frame is pivotally attached to said lower frame by means of pivot pins extending transversely therebetween.

4. A foldable handle as claimed in claim 1 having locking means pivotally mounted in securing relation with said upper and lower frames.

5. A foldable handle as claimed in claim 3 including locking means pivotally mounted on said pivot pins and adapted to lockingly secure said upper frame to said lower frame in the folded and the extended position.

6. A foldable handle for use with a movable device such as a lawnmower, comprising: an upper frame and a lower frame, said frames being each substantially U- shaped in form and having a pair of legs and a bight portion extending therebetween, the bight portion of said lower frame being offset from the plane of the legs thereof, attachment means at the ends of the legs of said lower frame for attachment to said device and pivot means connecting the end portion of the legs of said upper frame with the legs of said lower frame adjacent the bight thereof, said legs of the upper frame lying between the legs of said lower frame whereby said upper frame may be arranged in extended substantially coplanar relation with the legs of said lower frame and may be rearranged in folded substantially coplanar relation therewith, said upper and lower frames being of tubular section, and a locking device securing each of the adjacent leg portions of said upper and lower frames in substantially coplanar relation in both the folded and unfolded positions.

7. A foldable handle as claimed in claim 6 wherein each tubular end portion of the legs of said upper frame is deformed to a doublethickness portion having an outwardly concave shape to fit closely against the inner face of the adjacent upper end portion of said lower frame, said locking device comprising a cam member pivotally mounted on said frame connecting pivot means for handle locking camming action against a surface of a said frame.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,695,438 12/1928 Panalle et a1. l6-11 2,727,753 12/1955 Johnson et al 280--47.37 3,204,272 9/1965 Green et al 16110 3,357,716 12/1967 Musichuk 28047.37

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

JOEL E. SIEGEL, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 161 11 

